Pennies for Patients fundraiser planned for today

Pickerington High School North's National Honor Society this week will kick off a six-day fundraiser to benefit children stricken with leukemia and lymphoma.

Today, Thursday, April 11, shoppers at Barnes & Noble, 1738 Hill Road North, can direct a portion of proceeds from purchases they make to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients by using special vouchers distributed by the PHS North National Honor Society.

The event will take place at the store from 5:30 to 8 p.m. It will feature face-painting, storytelling, coloring and cookie decorating for younger kids, as well as demonstrations by the PHS North Team Physics and performances by the cast from North's upcoming play, Beauty and the Beast.

Additionally, North's honor society hopes to raise more money to help fight childhood leukemia and lymphoma by allowing anyone who makes purchases with the vouchers at the local Barnes & Noble through April 16 to contribute to the cause.

"Most people know someone who has been affected by cancer," said Kristen Eisenhauer, treasurer of North's honor society and an event organizer.

"We're trying to help these kids get through their battles."

Eisenhauer said honor society members distributed fundraising vouchers throughout the community for several weeks leading up to the April 11 event, including at local schools and churches.

She added vouchers also can be obtained during the April 11 kick-off event at Barnes & Noble.

"You can use them on the 11th and through April 16th," she said. "You can use them at the store and also with purchases done online.

"They work for everything in the store, even items from the cafe."

In addition to directing proceeds from purchases made with vouchers, the students will collect financial donations made to Pennies for Patients on April 11.

According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's website, the Pennies for Patients campaign began in a North Carolina school in 1995.

Since then, schools throughout the nation have partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to raise "millions of dollars" -- mostly through donations of pennies and other spare change -- to support cancer research and treatments.

"We're just trying to do a good thing to help out these kids," Eisenhauer said. "If people could come just for a little bit, it would be awesome."